Cricket bat sales at Argos grow by 1,544 per cent
Sports shops raised the tough retail environment from the Ashes by capitalising on England's historic cricket victory against Australia.

Catalogue chain Argos achieved cricket gear sales as high as a Kevin Pietersen six. Sales of its£19.99 GM Maxi Select Kashmir willow cricket bat increased by 1,544 per cent in man-of-the-series Freddie Flintoff's home county of Lancashire. Sales of cricket gear across the chain are up 300 per cent since the Test Series began.

Sales at JJB Sports - which sells a whole gamut of cricket equipment, from bat oil to gloves - soared 88 per cent over the eight weeks.

However, non-sports retailers were left stumped as punters chose to watch the match on TV rather than pound the high street. Shopper numbers were down 17.7 per cent on Monday, the final match day.